BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a51125540c29 DTSTART:20251027T050000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20251027T143000Z LOCATION:Lavington\, Nairobi\, Kenya SUMMARY:Scaling sustainable natural fibres for a circular bioeconomy and in dustrial growth in East Africa CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Global textile systems are shifting in response to questions ab out the sustainability\, sourcing\, and environmental footprint of the fab rics we use.The textiles industry\, valued at $1.6 trillion in 2023\, is p rojected to reach $3.3 trillion in 2030\, contributes to 2-8% of global gr eenhouse gas emissions and consumes about 215 trillion litres of water ann ually\, and much of that impact is concentrated in developing countries. Y et it remains a key driver of industrialization\, trade\, and job creation across the Global South.In East Africa\, fibrous agricultural residues su ch as banana pseudostems\, pineapple leaves and sisal waste are often disc arded or burnt. But these by-products represent a viable pathway toward ci rcularity: offering biodegradable low-impact materials in the production o f homeware items\, paper\, sanitary towels and even hair extensions. When treated and improved\, such fibers can be blended into cotton and other fi bers\, acting as alternatives to synthetic fossil-based fibres like polyes ter\, acrylic and nylon\, which dominate global markets at approximately 6 0%\, and contribute about  9% of annual synthetic microfiber pollution.Th e Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme i s helping to turn this untapped resource into a scalable economic opportun ity. With SMEP’s on-the-ground pilots already underway\, the region is w ell-positioned to build competitive value chains in sustainable fibres\, a dvancing climate goals\, reducing waste\, and opening new trade pathways t hrough waste valorisation.This symposium will bring together key producers \, buyers and enablers of the alternative and natural fibres sector across East Africa to:Map the natural fibre stakeholder ecosystem\, from farmers and processors to innovators\, buyers and policymakersHost producer–buy er–financier roundtables to accelerate collaboration and investmentExplo re enabling environments\, including policy levers\, financing models and market standards needed to scale the industryOpen dialogue on regional coo rdination\, including exploring the idea of a voluntary industry associati onThis initiative builds on the SMEP Programme’s objective to consolidat e fragmented knowledge and stakeholder efforts across alternative fibre va lue chains in East Africa. It seeks to strengthen industry coordination an d foster dialogue around a shared regional agenda to scale the use of orga nic waste and grow the alternative fibre sector as a pillar of a resilient \, inclusive circular bioeconomy. It follows the regional dialogue initiat ed at the World Circular Economy Forum 2025\, Embedding the bioeconomy int o national circular economy plans\, deepening the focus on trade-linked op portunities and industry development in sub-Saharan Africa region. This al so builds upon UNCTAD'\;s experience supporting organic agriculture mo vements across Africa and South East Asia as part of the UN Cluster on Tra de and Productive Capacities. The SMEP Programme is funded by UK Internat ional Development and implemented by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Devel opment Office (FCDO) in partnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) \, who provide Technical Assistance to the programme. Programme management is delivered through a consortium partnership between Pegasys Internation al and SouthSouthNorth.Participation:This workshop is in-person and by inv itation only\, as part of a targeted regional dialogue on sustainable natu ral fibres and circular bioeconomy strategies in East Africa.<\;p>\;Gl obal textile systems are shifting in response to questions about the susta inability\, sourcing\, and environmental footprint of the fabrics we use.& lt\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The textiles industry\, valued at $1.6 trillion in 2 023\, is projected to reach $3.3 trillion in 2030\, contributes to 2-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes about 215 trillion litres of water annually\, and much of that impact is concentrated in developing co untries. Yet it remains a key driver of industrialization\, trade\, and jo b creation across the Global South.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;In East Africa\, fibrous agricultural residues such as banana pseudostems\, pineapple leav es and sisal waste are often discarded or burnt. But these by-products rep resent a viable pathway toward circularity: offering biodegradable low-imp act materials in the production of homeware items\, paper\, sanitary towel s and even hair extensions. When treated and improved\, such fibers can be blended into cotton and other fibers\, acting as alternatives to syntheti c fossil-based fibres like polyester\, acrylic and nylon\, which dominate global markets at approximately 60%\, and contribute about &\;nbsp\;9% of annual synthetic microfiber pollution.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The Sustai nable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme is helpin g to turn this untapped resource into a scalable economic opportunity. Wit h SMEP’s on-the-ground pilots already underway\, the region is well-posi tioned to build competitive value chains in sustainable fibres\, advancing climate goals\, reducing waste\, and opening new trade pathways through w aste valorisation.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;This symposium will bring togethe r key producers\, buyers and enablers of the alternative and natural fibre s sector across East Africa to:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Map the natural fibre stakeholder ecosystem\, from farmers and processors to inno vators\, buyers and policymakers<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Host producer–b uyer–financier roundtables to accelerate collaboration and investment< \;/li>\;<\;li>\;Explore enabling environments\, including policy lev ers\, financing models and market standards needed to scale the industry&l t\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Open dialogue on regional coordination\, including exploring the idea of a voluntary industry association<\;/li>\;<\;/u l>\;<\;p>\;This initiative builds on the SMEP Programme’s objectiv e to consolidate fragmented knowledge and stakeholder efforts across alter native fibre value chains in East Africa. It seeks to strengthen industry coordination and foster dialogue around a shared regional agenda to scale the use of organic waste and grow the alternative fibre sector as a pillar of a resilient\, inclusive circular bioeconomy. It follows the regional d ialogue initiated at the World Circular Economy Forum 2025\, Embedding the bioeconomy into national circular economy plans\, deepening the focus on trade-linked opportunities and industry development in sub-Saharan Africa region. This also builds upon UNCTAD'\;s experience supporting organic agriculture movements across Africa and South East Asia as part of the UN Cluster on Trade and Productive Capacities.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p >\;The SMEP Programme is funded by UK International Development and impl emented by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in pa rtnership with UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)\, who provide Technical A ssistance to the programme. Programme management is delivered through a co nsortium partnership between Pegasys International and SouthSouthNorth.< \;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;strong>\;Participation:<\;/strong>\;<\;br >\;This workshop is in-person and by invitation only\, as part of a targ eted regional dialogue on sustainable natural fibres and circular bioecono my strategies in East Africa.<\;/p>\;<\;img src="\;/sites/defaul t/files/inline-images/smep-logo-jointx3-1-2025-400_0.jpg"\; data-align ="\;left"\; data-entity-uuid="\;5979837f-164b-4a40-a5e9-64a54c fc1c54"\; data-entity-type="\;file"\; alt="\;"\; width ="\;400"\; height="\;206\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps: //unctad.org/meeting/scaling-sustainable-natural-fibres-circular-bioeconom y-and-industrial-growth-east-africa DTSTAMP:20260710T154005Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR